Specialties for PA's

[ace9803]

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Hi,

I am new to the forum. Some advice would be most appreciated...I am very confused 😕

Anyway, medicine has always been a dream of mine. I did all my premed reqs and MCATS as an undergrad (I graduated in '98). I began to have my doubts and never went to med school. I tried my hand on Wall Street and hated it. I needed to get back to direct service work. I got my MSW (social work) and now work with HIV/AIDS patients at a hospital in NY. I love being in mental health, but am just not satisfied with social work.

I really want to specialize in psychitry and I don't think I want to or can do the long path of med school. Does anyone know if PA's can specialize? Are there programs in psychiatry?

Thanks.....

 

[Monika]

The University of Texas-Medical Branch in Galveston has a post-grad specialty program in psychiatry. I am pretty sure you would be working with incarcerated patients though. I don't see why you couldn't get a job out of PA school in Psych, w/o having to get post-grad training. Your background will make a big difference in landing a Psych job, right out of school. The TX Med Center here in Houston has postings all the time for PA's to assist psychiatrists in their practices. Check out http://www.appap.org for post-grad PA programs.
The AAPA website (http://www.aapa.org) will offer more info on accredited PA programs in the US.

Good luck,
Monika 🙂

 

[PublicHealth]

Hi,

I am new to the forum. Some advice would be most appreciated...I am very confused 😕

Anyway, medicine has always been a dream of mine. I did all my premed reqs and MCATS as an undergrad (I graduated in '98). I began to have my doubts and never went to med school. I tried my hand on Wall Street and hated it. I needed to get back to direct service work. I got my MSW (social work) and now work with HIV/AIDS patients at a hospital in NY. I love being in mental health, but am just not satisfied with social work.

I really want to specialize in psychitry and I don't think I want to or can do the long path of med school. Does anyone know if PA's can specialize? Are there programs in psychiatry?

Thanks.....

Why not go for a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical psychology or neuropsychology? You'll get all the direct service experience you want, plus you'll be able to teach and conduct research. Sure, the path is long, but the stress is no where near the med school/residency level. Added bonus is that by the time you're done training, you may even be able to prescribe psychotropic meds in some states! www.prescribingpsychologist.com

 

[deleted6669]

there is also a psych residency not involving convicts that works with the cherokee indian nation, it should be on the list at appap.org
as a psych pa you could wtrite for psych meds in 48 states( all except indiana and ohio). there is also an association of psych pa's. you can find the link at www.aapa.org
if you can't find it let me know and I will post it here.here it is:
http://groups.msn.com/ASSOCIATIONOFPSYCHIATRICPHYSICIANASSISTANTSINC/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

 

[ace9803]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely look up the psyD stuff.
That is a good option.

Thanks for all the info.

V-

 

[Monika]

Why not go for a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical psychology or neuropsychology? You'll get all the direct service experience you want, plus you'll be able to teach and conduct research. Sure, the path is long, but the stress is no where near the med school/residency level. Added bonus is that by the time you're done training, you may even be able to prescribe psychotropic meds in some states! www.prescribingpsychologist.com

I must be out of the loop, since when do Ph.D & PsyD's write prescriptions for psychiatric meds? Do they receive any medical training, or take pharmacology classes at least? Just curious...

M 🙂

 

[Tulkin]

Monika, some states have passed legislation to give PsyDs&PhDs limited prescribing privileges. However, psychologists have to complete an extra training in pharmacology.